title: Low HDL cholesterol, smoking and IL-13 R130Q polymorphism are associated with myocardial infarction in Greek Cypriot males. A pilot study.
abstract: This study was carried out in Greek Cypriot males to identify risk factors that predispose to myocardial infarction (MI). Genetic and lipid risk factors were investigated for the first time in a Greek Cypriot male case-control study.Contrary to other studies, mean low density lipoprotein cholesterol did not differ between cases and controls. High density lipoprotein cholesterol on the other hand, although within normal range in cases and controls, was significantly higher in the control population. In agreement with many other studies, smoking was significantly more prevalent in cases compared with controls. In pooled cases and controls, smokers had a significantly lower HDL-C level compared with non-smokers. The frequency of the IL-13 R130Q homozygotes for the mutation (QQ), as well as the mutant allele were significantly higher in cases compared with controls. The IL-13 R130Q variant, or another locus, linked to it, may increase the risk of MI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Genetics & The Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Stavroulla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xenophontos
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadjivassiliou
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagrigoriou
authors.forename: Nafsika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demetriou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miltiadous
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marcou
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elisaf
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Marios A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cariolou